Clamping device



May 6, 1941. w. T. stARRrrT CLAMPING DEvIcE .Filed De. 1, 1939 W/)v THROP 7 ScARR/'Tr ATTORNEYS Patented May 6, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to clamps of the contractile loop type and while not limited thereto, has particular reference to an improved clamp of the said character for coupling the exhaust and tail pipes to the inlet and outlet bosses of a muffler.

The invention primarily comprehends a contractile loop clamp in which the terminals of the loop extend outwardly in opposite directions coincidently tangent to the circumference of the loop, and means for drawing said terminals axially outward in opposite directions to effect radial constriction of the loop and for retaining the same in constricted clamping relation.

The invention further embodies in a clamp of the indicated character, a coupling member including a channel section and angulated end 'sections engaging the opposite ends thereof and with the terminals of the loop located in the channel section and protruding through apertures in the end sections and with nuts threadedly engaging the same for holding the sections ofl the coupling member in assembled relation and for effecting a radial constriction of the loop by tightening of the nuts against the end sections.

The invention further provides a clamp which is of a character that the parts thereof are capable of economic production and assembly and by means of which elements of a structure may be securely coupled together.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawing in which there is illustrated the preferred form of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a clamp constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the same in applied position to a muffler and tail pipe for clamping the same in assembled relation.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the clamping device.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, the clamp includes a length of resilient material such as a metallic rod which is bent upon i-tself to provide a loop portion I of annular or substantially circular formation and having terminals II and I2 extending outwardly in opposite directions coincidently tangent to the circumference of the loop at the juncture of the terminals II and I2 with the loop which is indicated in Fig. 3, as approximately at the radial line A-A so that the axes of the terminals II and I2 are substantially parallel.

In order to provide means for drawing the terminals Ii and I2 axially outward in opposite directions so as to effect the radial constriction of the loop I0, a coupling member is employed which includes an open ended cross sectionally channelshaped section I3 and a pair of end sections I4 and I5 of angulated formation, each having a pair of leaves I6 and I'I. The leaves I6 of the end members are of concavo-convex formation in cross section corresponding to the curvature of the bottom wall I8 of the channel section I3, while the leaves II are each provided with an aperture I9 located at one side of the transverse center of the leaves respectively. The angulated sections are respectively positioned at the opposite ends of the channel member with the leaves I6 underlying the bottom wall I8 thereof and. with the leaves I'I engaging the open end edges of the channel member.

The loop member is associated with the channel member with the terminals II and I2 positioned therein and with the terminals extending outwardly in opposite directions throughv the openings I9 of the leaves I'I of the angulated members I4 and I5. The extremities of the terminals II and I2 are threaded as at 20 to receive the nuts 2| and lock washers 22 are interposed between the nuts and the leaves. This serves to assemble the device and to provide means whereby upon tightening of the nuts the leaves II serve as bearing elements against which a thrust is exerted to effect drawing of the terminals II and I2 in opposite directions outwardly and tangentially to the circumference of the loop I0 so as to constrict and retain the same in its contracted condition for embracingly clamping the elements of a structure, such as the boss B of a muffler M about an exhaust or tail pipe P.

Due to the lateral offset arrangement of the openings and the extremities of the terminals I I and I2, it is apparent that rotation of the nut in a clockwise direction will impinge and `bind the leaves I6 against the lower Wall I8 of the channel member.

From the foregoing it will, therefore, be seen that a clamping device has been devised which is made up of parts and sections which are so .I

designed as to permit of economical production and wherein the terminals I I and I2 are initially assembled with the angulated end sections and then associated with the channel member to preclude any damage or injury to the threaded extremities Which might result if the channel and end sections were formed integral. It is also obvious that when assembled and the nuts turned up finger tight, the device is complete and may be handled as a unit.

Wlhat is claimed is:

1. A clamping device including a length of resilient material bent upon itself to provide a loop portion having terminals extending out- Wardly in opposite directions coincidently tangent to the circumference of the loop portion, a coupling member including a channel section and end sections having angulated leaves, corresponding leaves of said end sections engaging respectively with the opposite ends of the channel section and having apertures opening into the channel thereof, the other leaves of said end sections engaging against the outer face of the bottom Wall of the channel section, said terminals being located Within the channel section and having threaded ends protruding through the apertures in the leaves of the end sections, and nuts engaging the said threaded ends for holding the sections of the coupling members in assembled relation and for effecting a radial constriction of the loop by tightening of the nuts against the end sections.

2. A clamping device including a length of resilient material bent upon itself to provide a loop portion having terminals extending outwardly in opposite direction-s coincidently tangent to the circumference of the loop portion, a coupling member including a channel section having a bottom Wall provided with a convex outer face, end sections having angulated leaves, corresponding leaves of said end sections engaging respectively With the outer ends of the channel section and having apertures opening into and offset With reference to the longitudinal medial line of the channel, the other leaves of said end sections having concave upper faces engaging against the convex outer face of the channel section, said terminals being located Within the channel section and having threaded ends protruding through the apertures in the leaves of the end sections, and nuts engaging the said threaded ends for holding the sections of the coupling member in assembled relation and for eiecting a radial constriction of the loop by tightening the nuts against the end sections.

WINTHROP T. SCARRITT. 

